TMC's Saket Gokhale alleges Election Commission bias, raises concerns over fairness in WB bypolls
Kolkata: TMC MP Saket Gokhale has publicly criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) over what he describes as alarming inaction and bias regarding key issues related to the upcoming bypolls in West Bengal. Gokhale revealed that on 8th November, the TMC had urgently requested a meeting with the full bench of the ECI to discuss serious concerns over the bypolls. However, despite continuous follow-ups, the ECI allegedly did not respond. By the morning of 9th November, TMC had escalated its efforts, sending a delegation of five MPs led by Floor Leaders from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to Delhi. When the delegation visited the ECI around 3 p.m. and submitted letters outlining their concerns, they were still met with silence.
According to Gokhale, the TMC’s worries centre around two critical issues. Firstly, he pointed to the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal, claiming that CAPF personnel are operating independently, without required cooperation with the local police—a violation of ECI protocols. Additionally, Gokhale stated that CAPF members have been visiting residents’ homes, threatening them to vote for the BJP. Secondly, Gokhale raised an issue over recent remarks by a BJP minister who reportedly told West Bengal Police officers to "remove the national emblem from your uniform and put a slipper instead," a statement he condemned as deeply disrespectful.
Gokhale expressed frustration that, despite TMC’s repeated efforts, the ECI responded only on 10th November, granting an appointment at 3:30 p.m., just 90 minutes before the campaign period ended. He asserted that this timing rendered the meeting almost pointless, leaving little time to address these urgent concerns before the close of campaigning.
Gokhale alleged that the ECI’s delayed response hints at an inclination to favour the BJP, facilitating interference in the electoral process. He described the situation as a “disturbing trend” in India’s democracy, expressing dismay over the apparent lack of fairness from an institution meant to safeguard impartial elections. Gokhale stressed that the ECI must remember its duty to uphold free and fair elections, not act as a tool for political interests.
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Nitish Kumar's son Nishant among 32 to take oath as Bihar ministers
Patna (PTI): In a major expansion of the Cabinet of Bihar's first BJP-led government, JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar and 31 others took oath as ministers on Thursday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Altogether 32 leaders, drawn from all constituents of the five-party NDA in the state, were administered the oath of office by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain at a grand ceremony that was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister J P Nadda and BJP president Nitin Nabin.
Prominent inductees included Nishant Kumar, the son of JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who stepped down as chief minister last month to enter the Rajya Sabha.
The BJP, which is the single largest party in the 243-member assembly with 89 MLAs, has 15 ministers, who took oath on Thursday.
Most of the inductees were those who were part of the Nitish Kumar cabinet formed in November last year after the NDA stormed back to power in the assembly polls.
The JD(U) is represented by a total of 15 ministers, 13 of whom took the oath at the Gandhi Maidan on Thursday. Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav had taken oath in April along with Samrat Choudhary and were designated as deputy chief ministers.
Sanjay Kumar Singh and Sanjay Kumar Paswan, both from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) headed by Union minister Chirag Paswan, are back as ministers, and so are Santosh Kumar Suman and Deepak Prakash, sons of Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, respectively.
